Civil unions not dead, governor says

DENVER — Gov. John Hickenlooper announced Wednesday that he will order a special session of the Legislature to wrestle with unresolved legislation, including civil unions and millions of dollars in water projects.

"We had a moment of historical significance in the state of Colorado when the bill legalizing civil unions died in the House," Hickenlooper said, choking back tears as he made the announcement.

More than 500 calls and email messages -- some from close acquaintances -- greeted the governor Wednesday urging a special session on civil unions.

"It is ironic to me that the governor would choose to use his bully pulpit for the purpose of gay marriage and stand on the sidelines as families suffer, as Coloradans continue to look for work and as unemployment remains far too high," said House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.

Hickenlooper said jobs and the economy are concerns, and they too will be addressed during the special session.

The 120-day regular session was set to conclude Wednesday. But leaders in the Republican-controlled House halted action when they were faced with the certain passage of legal protections for same-sex couples in civil unions.

Some Republicans supported the bill, and Democrats were poised to demand a preliminary vote. But House GOP leaders recessed for three hours without any movement on the bill so it would not meet the midnight deadline for preliminary approval.

More than 30 other bills died as a result of the stall tactic. Some were able to be reconciled before the regular session concluded Wednesday by amending them into bills that were still alive.

But many of the bills held hostage with civil unions could not be brought back to life. Hickenlooper said many are critical and will be part of the special session. Specifically, he cited a bill that would authorize $43 million in water projects over the next three years, including two in the San Luis Valley, and another to reduce the cost of unemployment insurance for businesses.

"Some good bills got caught up in their abuse of the process, and if a special session is necessary to salvage those water projects, those changes to the unemployment insurance program, then so be it," said civil unions sponsor Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver. "We know whose fault it was. We know who drove the car into the ditch."

The Legislature sets aside funds for special sessions, which cost about $23,000 a day. This year's budget appropriates enough for 15 extra days, and it must go at least three days.

Hickenlooper has not announced when the special session will begin or all of the specific issues it will tackle. Those announcements are expected today.

And while it is certain to touch on several issues, the seeds of the special session were planted Tuesday when Republicans blocked action on civil unions.

"This is a circumstance where we are depriving people of their civil rights without reason," Hickenlooper said.

"When we talk about this session, it ought not all be lost on one day or one night," he said.

The speaker could not guarantee that civil unions would fare any better on its second go-round.

"It sure seemed like they dug an awful deep grave (Tuesday) night," said Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, who sponsored civil unions. "Everyday the momentum builds. Every opportunity we have to engage the public in this conversation the more people get it."